Systematic review and meta‐analysis on prevalence and anamnestic risk factors for erosive tooth wear in the primary dentition

Abstract Background Erosive tooth wear is a multifactorial and common condition in children. Aim This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to determine the prevalence and key risk factors for erosive tooth wear in the primary dentition of children up to 7 years of age. Design Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched in February 2023 for observational studies reporting prevalence and anamnestic risk factors. Additionally, a manual hand search was performed. Meta‐analyses were conducted for the prevalence and odds ratios of identified risk factors. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale modified for cross‐sectional studies. Results A total of 26 sources, reporting on 23 studies, were included in the systematic review. The overall estimated prevalence of children with erosive tooth wear in the primary dentition amounted to 35.6% (95% CI: 24.8–48.1). Anamnestic factors were structured into domains. Meta‐analyses revealed gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; p adj. = .008; OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.37–2.87), consumption of acidic food ( p adj. < .001; OR = 5.14, 95% CI: 3.56–7.42) and acidic drinks ( p adj. < .001; OR = 6.90, 95% CI: 4.64–10.25), holding beverages in the mouth while drinking ( p adj. = .035; OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.26–2.63), and snacking regularly ( p adj. = .041; OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.18–2.10) to be significantly associated with erosive tooth wear. Conclusion Future research should use standardized questionnaires to assess erosive tooth wear and its underlying risk factors (PROSPERO: CRD4202339776).